Pay to move home?

misschatterbox

My sister is with BT in a contract still, she has a BT line and BT broadband. She is moving home at the end of February and currently looking for a flat with a BT socket already installed. She has found out though that even though her contract runs out in September and she was planning on ending her contract then that when she moves she will have to pay £130 for a new line and that will make her start a new 12 month contract.

Firstly why would she have to pay £130 if she is only changing address and a socket will already be in the new flat and why must she start a new contract with BT when she is already in one? Is there anyway around this at all?

ACDeag

BT are charged by Openreach a large fee to activate a line.

The Openreach charges are the same for all phone suppliers BT, Sky, TalkTalk etc. If you are new customer to BT they subsidise the cost same as TalkTalk do and Sky, but an existing customer doesn't get the subsidy.

Remember BT Retail who you pay your bills to, operate at arms length from Openreach who have to deal equally with all telecom operators.

I should add the only time there is no charge is is the line is still active after the previous person moves out. Your sister should check the previous people had one.

misschatterbox

Thank you for the reply.

That is crazy when already an existing customer! Why the new contract though and not just a continuation of the current one? Surely they can't make you stay with them longer?

ACDeag

They can. Their view will be that it is your choice you moved not them and why should they incur extra costs by something you have chosen to do.

misschatterbox

But how are they incurring extra costs as everything staying the same and you are already paying £130 for the phone line. Surely they don't incur anything other than having to change your address on their system?

Thank you for your help, appreciate it.

ACDeag

Sorry misunderstood you. Yes I don't understand why they make you start a new contract, I guess it is because they can. It maybe cheaper to cancel the contract and pay BT for the cancellation and sign up with someone who will connect for free.

BT cancellation fees here
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/dynamicmodules/pagecontentfooter/pageContentFooterPopup.jsp?pagecontentfooter_popupid=26746&s_cid=con_FURL_termcharges

Mrs_Arcanum

Moved 3 times with NTL/Virgin & never been charged. One reason we have never had a BT line as they rip you off so much.

macman

A home move is free, but the line still has to be paid for if reprovisioned or reactivated. A home move always starts you on a new minimum term contract-why else would BT move you for free if you can then leave 30 days later without penalty?
It's not just 'changing your address on the system'. Assuming a number port, that has to be done too and BT OR charge BT Retail for this work.
if you choose another supplier than BT, you can get a new line or reactivation for around £40 instead.

money_saving_matt

The presence of a BT socket in the new house does not mean that the line is currently connected to the equipment in the telephone exchange.

If the line has not been in use for a while it's likely that it has been disconnected from the exchange equipment, and Openreach will charge BT Retail to have it reconnected, and they pass this charge on to you (albeit at a markup, given Openreach only charge BT Retail £50.44).

If the line is still connected to the exchange equipment then typically the line can be reactivated for free (Openreach charge £3.39 for this but most CPs absorb this cost).

Given BT Retail want to charge you their excessive £130 it would imply the former (i.e. the line has been disconnected). You'll be able to get a cheaper price if you shop around, and the new provider should be able to perform a transfer and change of address (i.e. take the line from BT Retail and install it in the new property all in one order).

donaldgreen

While house relocation, telephone connectivity may take some expenses from your pocket as the whole connection has to reinstall. But if BT line is already installed, we just need to connect it to device and register for convenience. I follow many money saving tips on this forum, it made my life better.

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Buzby

BT HAVE to give the standard price for re-provision, this will be the maximum, but if the one at the new address is live (or can be reactivated without an engineer visit) it will be, and the reconnection cost reduced. It he best case, this is free and your only commitment is the 12 month minimum term, which is reasonable.